The Revenge of Dr Von Burpinburger Read Free Page A

windows would have been a real pain,’ he winced. ‘And then those tough guys probably used him for a punching bag. Ouch!’

    The mouse glanced sideways at Eric. The boy clearly wasn’t listening.
    â€˜Sore and sorry, that’s how he’d have turned out,’ Einstein continued. ‘ If I must answer my own question! ’ he added loudly.
    â€˜Sorry.’ Eric was frowning about something.
    â€˜What’s wrong with you tonight?’ Einstein asked.
    â€˜I dunno.’ Eric sighed. ‘Just stuff.’
    â€˜Stuff?’ Einstein’s head began buzzing at once. ‘Matter, objects, bits and pieces, things.’
    â€˜The truth is,’ Eric said, ‘this genius thing doesn’t suit me.’
    â€˜What?’ Einstein couldn’t believe his ears. ‘Being a genius is wonderful. Marvellous, superb, tremendous! It means you know everything and you’re always right.’
    â€˜But it’s not me. I’m not a genius at all.’
    â€˜No one knows that.’
    â€˜But that’s the problem. Everyone thinks I’m a mega-brain when I’m nothing of the sort, and it makes me feel like a fake.’ Eric took a deep breath. ‘That’s why I think we should tell people.’
    â€˜Tell people? Tell them what?’
    â€˜That you are the genius and that I’m just an ordinary kid with an ordinary brain.’
    â€˜No way!’ Einstein shrieked. ‘I don’t mind being special in a cute and cuddly way, but I don’t want anyone finding out I’m a genius.’
    â€˜Why not?’
    â€˜A mouse with a mega-brain? Every scientist onthe planet would want to study me. They’d come and take me away. They’d open up my head and poke about inside it.’ Einstein began shaking all over. ‘You know how much that scares me.’
    The mouse stood on Eric’s chest. ‘That’s what those two men did to me – poked about in my head. I couldn’t go through it again.’

    He burrowed under the blanket. Eric heard his muffled voice, full of fear. ‘You be the genius,’ Einstein begged. ‘Please.’
    Eric didn’t want to agree, but seeing how terrified Einstein was, he had no choice.
    â€˜OK, OK. If that’s what you want.’ Eric pulled up the blankets. Einstein snuggled close. ‘Relax. Everything’s fine.’

    At the Cheap & Nasty Motel, a sore and sorry Tikazza Brique lay groaning in bed.
    â€˜It can’t be that bad,’ Dr von Burpinburger scoffed. ‘You’ll be fine in no time.’
    â€˜I don’t think so, Master,’ Brique gasped. He was bandaged from head to toe like an Egyptian mummy.
    â€˜Of course you’ll be fine,’ the doctor insisted, slapping his assistant on the shoulder. Briquescreamed with pain. ‘You have to be so that we can embark on my next plan,’ the doctor added.

    â€˜Your next plan, Master?’
    â€˜Oh yes. While you’ve been lying on your back, I’ve been doing all the hard work. Plan C will be a winner for sure.’
    â€˜Plan C?’ Brique’s eyes brightened at once. ‘Is that C for Cat?’
    â€˜Why on earth would you think that?’ snapped Dr von Burpinburger. ‘The C is for Capture, you fool. I would’ve thought that was obvious. With this plan, we will capture that cunning little creep for certain . Capeesh?’

BALLOONATICS!
    â€˜Steady!’
    Eric was feeding the pigeons before going to school on Monday morning. Einstein was helping. The pigeons were all over them, cooing and calling.
    â€˜Take it easy,’ the boy told them. ‘Everyone’ll get fed in the end.’
    But the birds took no notice.
    So Einstein stepped in. ‘You heard what the boss said,’ the mouse shouted. He grabbed a long nail that was lying nearby, and swished it like a sword. ‘Stand back!’ he demanded, prancing like a musketeer.